Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-02-16

or bracketed shelf, in the hollow hank OF tne
mountain that, to Hale's first glance, bore
rude resemblance to Eagles Court. But
there was neither meadow nor open field; the
few acres of ground had been wrested from
the forest by Ak and fire, and unsightly
stumps everywhere marked the rude and dlf-
ficult attempts at cultivation. Two or three
rough buildings of unplaned and unpainted
boards, connected by rambling sheds, stood
in the center of the ampitheatre. Far from
being protected by the encircling rampant, it
seemed to be the selected arena for the conf
batting elements A whirlwind from the
outer abyss continually filled this cave OF
Eolus with driving snow, which, however,
melted as it fell, or was quickly whirled
away again.
A few dogs barked and ran out to meet the
cavalcade, but there was no other sign OF
any life disturbed or concerned at their ap-
proach.
~ reckon Hennicker amt home or he'd hev
been on the lookout afore this" said the ost-
Ter, dislnounting and rapping at the door.
After silence female voice, unintelligl-
bly, to the others, apparently had some colo
Guy with the ostler, who returned to the
party.
"Must 90 in through the kitchin-can't
open the door for the wind"
Leaving their horses in the shed, they en-
tered the kitchen, which communicated, and
presently came upon square room filled with
smoke from fire of green pine logs. The
doors and windows were tightly fastened;
the only air came in through the large
throated chimney in voluminous gusts,
which seemed to make the hollow shell of the
apartment swell and expand to the point OF
bursting. Despite the singing OF the resin
Gus smoke, the temperature was grateful to
the benumbed travellers. Several cushionless
arm chairs, such as were used in barrooms,
two tables, sideboard, half bar and half
cupboard, and rocking chair comprised the
furniture, and a few bear and buffalo skins
covered tho floor. Hale sank into one Of the
arm chairs, and, with q lazy satisfaction,
partly born Of his fatigue and partly from
some newly discovered appreciative faculty,
gazed around the room, and then at the mis-
tress Of the house, with whom the Others were
talking.
She was tall, gaunt and withered; in spite
of her evident years, her twisted hair was
still dark and full, and her eyes bright and
piercing; her complexion and teeth had long
since succumbed to the vitiating effects OF
frontier cookery, and her lips were stained
with the yellow juice Of brierwood pipe
she held i'll her mouth. The ostler had e1-
planned their intrusion, and veiled their
character under the vague epithet Of a
"hunting party" and was now evidently de-
scribing them personally. In his new found
philosophy the fact that the interest Of his
hostess seemed to be excited only by the
names of his companions, that he himself
was carelessly, and even deprecatingly, al.
luded to as the stranger from Eagles by
the ostler, and completely overlooked by the
old woman, gave him no concern.
"You'n have to talk to Zenobia yourself.
bod rot eff I'm gine to interfere. She knows
Hennicker's ways, and if she chooses to take
in transients it amt no funeral O. mine.
Zeenie! You, Zeenie! Look yer!"
A tall, lazy looking, handsome girl ap-
peared on the threshold of the next room, and
with hand on each door post, slowly swung
herself backward and forward, without en-
tering. sWell, maw."
The old woman briefly and unalluringly
pictured the condition Of the travellers.
"Paw amt here" began the girl, doubt
fully, aand- How dy, Dick! Is that you"
The interruption was caused by her recogni-
ton of the ostler, and she lounged into the
room. In spite of a skimp, slatternly gown,
whose straight skirt clung to her lower limbs,
there was quaint, nymph-like contour to
her figure Whether from languor, i'll health,
or more probably from a morbid conscious
ness of her own height, she moved with
slightly affected stoop that had become
habit. It did not seem ungraceful to Hale,
already attracted by her delicate profile, her
large dark eyes, and a certain weird resem'
blance she had to some half-domesticated
dryad.
"rhatll do, maw," she said, dismissing her
parent with nod. "I'll talk to Dick"
AS the door closed on tho old woman Ze'
nobia leaned her hands on tho back of q
chair, and confronted the adniring eyes OF
Dick with goddess-like indifference.
"Now, wot's the use of your playin' tha
yer game on me, Dick? Wot's the good OF
your ladlin' out that hog wash about huntini